Language/Moroccan-arabic/Culture/Ramadan

Moroccan Arabic Culture → Holidays and Festivals → Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered to be the holiest month of the year for Muslims. During this month, Muslims worldwide observe fasting, prayer, and other religious rituals. In Morocco, Ramadan is a time of reflection, spiritual renewal, and community bonding.

Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Language Use and Social Context & The Medina.

The Importance of Ramadan

For Muslims, Ramadan is a time to focus on their faith, increase their connection with Allah, and renew their commitment to living according to Islamic beliefs and values. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory for all Muslims who are physically and mentally capable of doing so. Muslims who fast refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in sexual activity from dawn until sunset.

Other religious practices during Ramadan include increased prayer and recitation of the Quran. Muslims are encouraged to engage in acts of charity and kindness, as well as to seek forgiveness and repentance for past sins. The final ten days of Ramadan are considered particularly holy, as it was during this time that the Quranic revelations were believed to have been made to the Prophet Muhammad.

Observing Ramadan in Morocco

In Morocco, Ramadan is a public holiday, and many businesses have shorter operating hours or close entirely during this month. The country's streets, markets, and homes take on a festive atmosphere, with colorful decorations and special foods prepared for the evening meal known as iftar.

Muslims in Morocco typically wake up early each day for suhoor, the meal eaten before sunrise, and break their fast with dates and water at sunset. After the evening prayer, the iftar meal is shared with family and friends. Traditional dishes served during Ramadan include harira, a hearty soup made with lentils, chickpeas, and lamb, and chebakia, a sweet pastry made with sesame seeds and honey.

The night prayer, known as tarawih, is an essential part of Ramadan in Morocco, and many mosques offer extended prayer services during this time. Social activities, including cultural activities, music and theatre, are also popular in the evenings during this month.

Vocabulary

Here are some common Moroccan Arabic words and phrases related to Ramadan:

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English
رمضان	Ramaḍān	Ramadan
إفطار	ifṭār	breaking of the fast
سحور	suḥūr	pre-dawn meal
تراويح	tarāwīḥ	night prayer
صلاة	ṣalāt	prayer
صائم	ṣā'im	fasting person
حريرة	ḥarīra	soup made with lentils, chickpeas, and lamb
الشباكية	ash-shabākiya	sweet pastry made with sesame seeds and honey

Conclusion

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims around the world and is an essential part of Moroccan culture. By understanding the significance and customs surrounding Ramadan, learners of Moroccan Arabic can gain a deeper appreciation of the country's traditions and religious practices.

Sources

• Ramadan
• Moroccan Culture

Great work on completing this lesson! Take a moment to investigate these connected pages: Kasbahs & Greetings and Etiquette.

Table of Contents - Moroccan Arabic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction

• Alphabet and Writing
• Pronunciation

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Greetings and Basic Phrases

• Introducing Yourself and Others
• Asking for Directions
• Numbers and Counting

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Nouns and Pronouns

• Gender and Plurals
• Demonstratives
• Possessive Pronouns

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Food and Drink

• Ordering Food in a Restaurant
• Describing Food
• Beverages and Ordering Drinks

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Verbs

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

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House and Home

• Rooms and Furniture
• Household Chores
• Renting an Apartment

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Adjectives

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

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Traditions and Customs

• Weddings and Celebrations
• Greetings and Etiquette

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Prepositions

• Directional Prepositions
• Temporal Prepositions

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Transportation

• Taking a Taxi
• Public Transportation

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Imperative Mood

• Affirmative Imperative
• Negative Imperative

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Shopping and Bargaining

• Shopping for Clothes
• At the Market
• Bargaining and Haggling

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Historical Sites and Landmarks

• The Medina
• Kasbahs

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Relative Clauses

• Direct and Indirect Object Clauses
• Relative Pronouns

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Health and Emergencies

• At the Hospital
• Emergencies and First Aid

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Passive Voice

• Formation of Passive Constructions
• Uses of the Passive

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Leisure and Entertainment

• Music and Dance
• Sports and Activities

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Holidays and Festivals

• Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha
• Ramadan

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Conditional Mood

• Formation of the Conditional
• Uses of the Conditional

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Regional Dialects

• Darija and Other Dialects
• Language Use and Social Context

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Indirect Speech

• Reported Speech
• Indirect Questions

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Weather and Climate

• Describing the Weather
• Seasons and Climate

Other Lessons

• Kasbahs
• Greetings and Etiquette
• Morocco Timeline
• The Medina
• Darija and Other Dialects
• Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha
• Weddings and Celebrations
• Language Use and Social Context